What Is My Brewery Worth?

The craft brewery market has matured significantly. While the explosive growth of 2015–2020 has slowed, well-run breweries with strong taproom operations and local distribution remain valuable businesses with loyal customer bases.

Typical Valuation Ranges

Most breweries sell for 2.5x to 4x SDE.

Factors that push toward the higher end:

• Strong taproom revenue (highest margins in the business)
• Regional distribution with established retail and restaurant accounts
• Recognizable brand with loyal following
• Food program in the taproom
• Events and private rentals revenue
• Modern brewing equipment with capacity to grow
• Revenue above $1M

Factors that push toward the lower end:

• Distribution-only with no taproom (much lower margins)
• Owner is the head brewer
• Aging or inefficient brewing equipment
• Declining on-premise volume
• Short remaining lease
• Heavy competition in saturated local market

Key Metrics Buyers Evaluate

Taproom vs. distribution mix: Taproom pints sell at 5–10x the margin of distributed kegs. A 60/40 or higher taproom mix is ideal.

Barrels produced: Annual production volume relative to system capacity. Operating at 50–70% capacity shows room to grow without capital investment.

Brand strength: Social media following, event attendance, and Untappd ratings indicate consumer demand.

Equipment condition: Brewhouse, fermenters, canning lines, and glycol systems are expensive to replace. Modern, well-maintained equipment is a significant asset.

How to Increase Your Brewery's Value

1. Maximize taproom revenue. Food, events, merchandise, and private rentals all boost the highest-margin channel.
2. Build your brand. Consistent packaging, social media presence, and community involvement create transferable brand equity.
3. Develop recipes that don't depend on you. Document every recipe, process, and quality control procedure.
4. Diversify distribution. Build relationships with multiple distributors, retailers, and restaurants.
5. Secure your lease. Breweries are expensive to relocate. Long-term leases are essential.

Browse the valuation multiples guide for industry data, or schedule a free call for a confidential valuation.